Tim Tebow has reportedly agreed to play tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and not as a quarterback.
That sentence alone should be the end of the story, but because the term “White Privilege” is bandied about as if every opportunity a white person gets is because of his or her skin color, elaboration is unfortunately needed.
Tebow has not played a regular season down since the 2012 season with the New York Jets, while Colin Kaepernick has not played a down in the NFL since 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Tebow has been out of the league because he wasn’t an accurate passer, and at the end of his first stint in the NFL, was unwilling to switch positions when it became apparent quarterback wasn’t going to work. In Tebow’s two seasons with the Denver Broncos, he completed just 47.3% of his passes.
For Kaepernick, the reasons for unemployment — while different — are not all that dissimilar.
Kaepernick also lacked accuracy as a passer, with a career completion percentage of 59.8%. For reference, only three of the 35 eligible quarterbacks in 2020 had a worse completion percentage than Kaepernick’s career average.
And then there’s his off the field issues. Some might disagree with this statement, but … a big reason why Kaepernick is no longer in the NFL is because of his views on America and his insistence on kneeling for the National Anthem. It isn’t just about his play.
His beliefs and actions, which go against the views of a large number of Americans, make his addition to an NFL roster much more complicated. As in any business, there are certain factors to weigh when it comes to hiring a prospective employee. Does the potential employee add something of value to the company? Is there anything in his or her past that could potentially cause unnecessary and unwanted attention to the company? If so, is the unwanted attention worth it for what the company will gain from hiring the employee?
As with any decision, everything must be considered from a cost/benefit perspective, and the Kaepernick situation is no different.
Kaepernick certainly has the potential to add value to an NFL team. In 2013 and 2014, Kaepernick averaged over 3,000 yards passing with 40 touchdowns thrown in the two seasons. In 2013, he had 92 rushing attempts for 524 yards, and in 2014 he had 104 rushing attempts for 639 yards. In today’s NFL, where dual threat quarterbacks are coveted, Kaepernick certainly could add something to an NFL roster, even in a limited role.
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What about his background? Well, this is where the employer may have some hesitation. On August 26, 2016, Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem before a 49ers preseason game. After the game, he gave his reasoning for kneeling.
I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder … This is not something that I am going to run by anybody. I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.
“This is not something that I am going to run by anybody,” might cause an eyebrow or two to raise when the potential future employer is going over resumes, no? Imagine going into your superiors office and telling them you’re going to say something that is going to anger half of the company’s clients, and that you’re not looking for them to sign off on it. You can kiss that job goodbye.
Kaepernick then took it a step further by wearing socks that depicted police officers as pigs, angering millions who support law enforcement.
Once all information is gathered — which skills the potential employee brings to the table and which negatives come with them — a risk/reward assessment is made.
Is the talent that Kaepernick brings to the table worth the media circus that comes with him?
For the owners of the 32 NFL franchises’, the answer has been a resounding no. Why hire a 33-year-old quarterback who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2016, with a history of angering half of the league’s paying customers, when there are younger, less controversial options at your disposal?
Not to mention, the NFL did finally give in and grant Kaepernick a chance to prove that his talent outweighs the drama in November 2019. Kaepernick and his team went back and forth on the details of the proposed workout, and his team decided they would rather run the workout themselves, and the whole thing fell apart. When you’re attempting to work in one of the most selective industries in the world, you don’t get to dictate how the interview process works.
Now, let’s take a look at Tebow.
For starters, he’s willing to make a position change in order to play in the NFL. He was unwilling to do so in 2012, and because of that, he found himself out of the league. Tebow has decided that playing professional football is more important than playing quarterback, and he’s getting a chance to make a team because of what he prioritizes.
It’s just not an apples to apples comparison, no matter what the race-baiting Left wants you to believe. The fact that Tebow was offered a contract to play tight end for the Jaguars is in no way a reflection on Kaepernick. If Kaepernick comes out and says that he’s willing to play tight end in the NFL, and then doesn’t get a tryout with a coach who happens to be a close friend, then the argument can be made.
Additionally, Tebow doesn’t bring nearly the media attention that Kaepernick would bring. What has Tebow done that would cause an owner to pause? He’s not afraid to tell the world that he’s a Christian? That’s hardly the same as calling all police officers “pigs” and hating America.
So, yes. Kaepernick is partly out of the NFL because of his views on social justice, and it certainly plays a role in his inability to get an invite to a training camp. But that’s how things work in the real world. When your actions impact business, there are consequences.
The NFL is a business, and the talent that Kaepernick would bring to a team is not enough to outweigh the negatives that come with him.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.